Questions to consider with interior decorating

1 – What do you like about the present room(s)?

This is mostly to figure out what your taste in decorating is. Like many things your taste has to be discovered rather than invented. Occasionally you find nothing you presently like in the room; try looking at rooms you do like, or at least aspects of rooms you like. Is there something you want to put at the centre (literally or metaphorically) and decorate around? Is the room designed around the dinning set, the piano, the painting on the wall, the view through the windows? Start here and work around the ideas.

2 – What don’t you like?

That almost always comes after the previous question. Try to look at this long term. Some permanent renovations are occasionally necessary if there’s a limit in the design of the room; most other things can simply be moved out.

3- What colours do you like?

And of course, what do you dislike? Can you get the whole room to work in these colours? Repainting is one issue, the room contents and arrangement another. If the room fits around a central object you will find this will greatly influence your choice of colours.

4 – Once you have decided on colours you need to ask whether natural lighting is a factor.

If you have natural lighting during the day and artificial lighting at night you may find the room completely changes its appearance. This can often be rectified by using eggshell/matt paint. Walls painted with these paints have less colour change when the light varies. You can almost always have the same pigment paint in a different finish. The situation can be further helped by using electric lights that imitate natural sunshine. If you have blinds then questions about natural lighting and electric lighting are important; rooms change appearance when the blind goes up or down.

5- Do you have a style that has always appealed to you?

This is an overall aesthetic question, and often a room can be designed in a certain style while still fitting in with a central object. But remember to look at this long term. Novelty items that catch your fancy might be a bit annoying in a year’s time. Else, they might be kitsch. If you have loved a certain idea, theme or pop culture item since childhood you might well find it retains its appeal. If you are worried it is best to lean towards a more conservative approach.

6 – The function of the room is also important.

Technology like televisions and Hi-fis can be less conspicuous than what they were a generation ago, so no longer need to determine the décor, though they are still a factor. It is now possible to have a dining room with a projector that turns the space into a home theatre. A blind on a window can adequately change a space from sunroom to something suitable for viewing films. Multi-function is now quite common.

7 – Special needs.

If there are children, old pensioners of someone in a wheelchair you will need to consider these things. Using laminated floor and stain resistant paints can make all the difference to the upkeep of the room, but if they keep the same colour scheme as previously planned they need not later the overall effect very much.

8 – Budget and time.

Budget is always an issue, even for millionaires. If you don’t have the money don’t overextend yourself. Remember, you can do things in stages. And while we never what anybody to skim on quality there are always cheaper alternatives. Second-hand good or DIY can give a perfectly fine result; you end up spending time and effort rather than money, but for some people this is the better option.

For any question on Interior Design in Perth call Luna Deco. Luna deco specialises in designer blinds and wallpaper for interior decorating.